ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the nature of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic among marginalized drug users in Rio de Janeiro, with a specific focus on the structure and effectiveness of the HIV prevention program implemented by the authors. The majority of the clients came from several of Rio de Janeiro's many favelas. The balance of the clients was recruited from the asfalto, or asphalt sections of the city. Client recruiters engaged potential respondents in a preliminary discussion of AIDS prevention. As the epidemiology of HIV infection changes, increasing numbers of people who were not targets of early information and prevention campaigns are at significant risk of infection. Despite the compelling nature of the study findings, there were a number of limitations. The chapter shows that the feasibility of accessing impoverished communities using indigenous client recruiters and documented the residents' willingness to participate in an AIDS education/prevention program.
